This modern house tucked away on a 2-acre wooded site in an upscale neighborhood in Houston, serves as an oasis for two professionals to share with their kids, extended family and friends. The lot leaves one feeling much further removed from the hustle and bustle of the nearby street than actuality, due to the dense perimeter landscape buffer and a healthy smattering of mature trees. The clients desired a modern home providing California-style indoor-outdoor living – to the degree possible in Houston’s harsh climate, where summers are hot and humid and winters are wet. Along with the Texas weather, the dense shade provided by the existing trees was also a major factor in plant selection. The mostly one-story plan takes advantage of the large site and creates strong connections to the outdoors with large expanses of glass interspersed with limestone masses. The master bedroom, master bath and study all open out to secluded gardens. The home also features a backyard with a swimming pool and plenty of space to relax. The couple opted for privacy by installing a driveway to locate their house deep within the flat property, making it invisible from the road. OJB’s goal with this project was to provide a landscape/hardscape design that respects, responds and enhances the relationships between the interior architecture and adjacent exterior spaces.